Short-Term vs. Long-Term Goals

A short-term goal is something you realistically can accomplish is a short time frame, as in 12 months or less. Some examples of a short-time goal could be:

Taking a class

Writing or updating your resume or cover letter

Participating in a 5K run

A long-term goal is something you want to accomplish in the future. Long-term goals usually take 12 months or longer to complete. Some examples might include:

Graduating from college

Saving for retirement

Competing in a marathon

Tips for Setting Long-Term Goals

Envision where you want to be in life 5 and 10 years from now. Think about what you want to accomplish.

Tackle your goal(s) from finish to start. Create a timeline starting with your goal and working backwards.

Think about the smaller tasks or goals that need to be completed to achieve your bigger long-term goal. Place those smaller tasks on your timeline at increments of five years, one year, and six months.

Create a monthly to do list of those smaller tasks or goals. As monthly goals are completed, review your goals and modify them as needed.